Human Resource Management with AI MSc



Overview

This course uniquely integrates professional, CIPD-accredited HR education with in-depth learning in AI, data analytics, and computing.

Students will gain the confidence to use AI tools selectively and strategically alongside human-centred HR practice, future-proofing their careers while ensuring technology enhances people-focused decision-making.

This programme also offers the option for a placement.

The Business School is AACSB accredited, making it one of the top 6% of business schools globally - and Edinburgh Napier is also CIPD accredited as a University.  
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Mode of Study:

Full-time (available as Part-time)

Duration:

1 years

Start date:

Sep

Course details

This course will equip graduates to confidently combine human resource expertise with AI, data analytics, and computing skills to operate effectively in technology-driven workplaces.

Graduates will be able to make informed, ethical, and strategic people management decisions, enhance workforce and talent initiatives, and future-proof their HR careers in a rapidly changing world. 

A strong focus on both theory to practice and reflective practice is integrated into programme workshops. 

Our professional accreditation aligns with the employability agenda of developing professional highly skilled students. You will learn techniques and strategies that will enable you to critically reflect on your workplace experiences and create your own on-going programme of professional development. 

We pride ourselves on our strong integration of knowledge into practice and therefore throughout our workshops we integrate practical considerations, facilitated via reflective practice. We also offer a voluntary placement, in the Human Resource department (or equivalent) of an organisation, undertaken alongside and integrated within the programme of study. This is a highly beneficial opportunity for a variety of reasons, and is especially useful for those who do not have any relevant HR employment experience. This opportunity facilitates the development of employability skills, and reflective practice whilst providing access to organisational practice along with a primary data research source.

For the research element of the MSc HRM programme a 'problem-based learning' approach will be utilised and will help to ensure projects have the potential to add real and immediate value in your current workplace or placement organisation. Integrating reflective practice within this research process will facilitate your learning and development. Moreover, you are encouraged to reflect on your own CV when deciding upon a research focus, in terms of your future career direction and employment prospects.

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    How you’ll be taught

    This programme will all be taught face-to-face on campus.  The taught learning strategy of the programme ensures you develop as a confident individual with advanced, high-quality knowledge, skills and behaviours that are recognised and valued by you, your employer(s) and the wider community in all areas of Human Resource Management. 

    A key feature of the Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) strategy is ensuring an appropriate balance of theory and research alongside a practical application of the subject area with relevant work-based examples, thus encouraging you to examine the subject area and your practice from a more critical stance as is appropriate at Masters Level. 

    You’ll learn by a variety of teaching methods including lectures, external professional speakers, role-play, workshops, seminars and independent study. A practice-based research project develops and measures your knowledge and skill-based development. 

    We also draw on elements of active learning where we will encourage you to be actively engaged in and think about the learning process and how it affects you, personally and professionally, and how it might influence or enhance your learning and understanding of other modules and disciplinary areas.

    This programme is taught by Dr. Laura Gerard: Dr Malcolm McGregor: Associate Professor Janice McMillan; Associate Professor Jennifer O’Neil; Associate Professor Lesley McLean; and Professor Dave McGuire. 

    Dr Malcolm McGregor has an extensive experience of management and leadership consultancy, gained internationally across multiple industry sectors over the past 30 years. He will be willing to talk to any prospective student and answer questions you might have about the programme. 

     
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    Assessments

    Students complete a mix of practical and research-based assignments, including case studies, data analysis projects, HR simulations, reflective portfolios, group work, presentations, and a problem-focused dissertation.

    These tasks develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and professional competence, enabling students to apply AI and HR knowledge effectively in real-world organisational contexts. 

    Assessment includes a blend of practical and academic methods: written reports, case studies, data analysis projects, presentations, group work, reflective portfolios, and a problem-based dissertation. Formative feedback supports learning, while assessments evaluate the ability to apply HR and AI knowledge, develop professional skills, and make informed, strategic decisions in real-world contexts.
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    Work placement

    The voluntary placement scheme offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on HR experience within an organisation, applying learning from the MSc in real-world settings.

    Placements enhance employability, develop professional skills, and provide access to workplace data for research. Students reflect on practice, building confidence and competence in people management and AI integration.
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    Facilities

    Students will access two different campuses:  the Merchiston campus provides state-of-the-art computer labs, data analytics, AI software, and collaborative learning spaces. They benefit from professional HR and business simulation tools, dedicated seminar rooms, and workshops led by industry experts.

    The Craiglockhart campus replicates all the state-of-the-art teaching facilities you would expect from one of Scotland’s most innovative business schools. 

    Taken together these facilities support hands-on learning, research, and practical application of HR and AI concepts in real-world scenarios.

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Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Human Resource Management with AI?

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above. We look for applicants to have a background in any discipline in order to be eligible for the programme.

We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient professional work experience within the industry.

Can I get admission into Human Resource Management with AI based on my working experience in this sector?

This course has academic entry requirements which are assessed alongside relevant work experience. Full details of any relevant work experience, including references should be submitted with your application and may be considered for entry where the minimum academic entry requirements are below those required.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements. Please contact us with your specific circumstances by submitting an enquiry form above and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • MSc Nursing courses
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2025/26 2026/27
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £7,650 £8,030
Overseas and EU £19,750 £20,540
Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.
The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online degrees. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount. Please read our full T&C here.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Careers

The professional field of Human Resource Management (HRM) focuses on attracting, developing, and retaining talent while ensuring organisations operate effectively and ethically.

What are my potential future prospects with a Masters?

HR professionals manage recruitment, employee relations, performance, training, diversity, and wellbeing. With AI increasingly shaping workplaces, HR roles now also involve data-driven decision-making, workforce analytics, and technology-enhanced people management—skills directly relevant to modern organisational challenges and students’ future careers.

Graduates of the MSc in HRM with AI can pursue a wide range of careers in HR, people management, and organisational strategy, including roles where technology and data play a growing role. They are also equipped for a range of ‘traditional’ leadership and consultancy positions:

  • HR Business Partner
  • Talent Acquisition Specialist / Recruitment Manager
  • Learning & Development Manager
  • Employee Relations Advisor
  • Organisational Development Consultant
  • HR Analytics Specialist
  • Change Management Consultant
  • Talent Manager

In addition, the depth of knowledge provided by the AI modules opens doors to more technically informed opportunities and roles that have yet to emerge within the new organisational landscape.

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